Power management in distributed antenna systems (DASS), and related components, systems, and methods

ABSTRACT

Power management in a distributed communications system, such as a distributed antenna system (DAS), that includes determining user activity at remote units of the DAS. When user activity in one or more remote units falls below or above a specified threshold, power usage by the one or more remote units is reduced or increased accordingly. The power usage may reduced and/or increased by turning select remote units on or off, by increasing or reducing an operating voltage of one or more power amplifiers, and/or by turning select multiple-in, multiple-out (MIMO) front ends on or off. Power may be reduced such that wireless coverage within a specified area is maintained.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/771,756 filed on Feb. 20, 2013, the content of which is relied uponand incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and the benefit ofpriority under 35 U.S.C. §120 is hereby claimed.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Disclosure

The technology of this disclosure relates to distributed antenna systems(DASs), such as distributed communications systems, which are capable ofdistributing wireless radio frequency (RF) communications services overwired communications media.

Technical Background

Wireless communications have ever-increasing demands for high-speedmobile data communications. As an example, so-called “wirelessfidelity,” or “WiFi” systems and wireless local area networks (WLANs).Wireless communications systems communicate with wireless devices knownas “clients,” which reside within a wireless range or “cell coveragearea” in order to communicate with an access point device.

One approach to deploying a wireless communications system involves theuse of “picocells.” Picocells are RF coverage areas having a radius in arange from a few meters up to approximately twenty (20) meters.Picocells can be utilized to provide a number of different services(e.g., WLAN, voice, radio frequency identification (RFID) tracking,temperature and/or light control, etc.). Because a picocell covers asmall area, there are typically only a few users (clients) per picocell.Picocells also allow for selective wireless coverage in small regionsthat otherwise would have poor signal strength when covered by largercells created by conventional base stations.

In conventional wireless systems as illustrated in FIG. 1, coverageareas 10 in a DAS 12 are created by and centered on remote units 14connected to a head-end equipment 16 (e.g., a head-end controller, ahead-end unit, or a central unit). The remote units 14 receive wirelesscommunications services from the head-end equipment 16 over acommunications medium 18 to be distributed in a respective coverage area10. The remote units 14 include information processing electronics, anRF transmitter/receiver, and an antenna 20 operably connected to the RFtransmitter/receiver to wirelessly distribute the wirelesscommunications services to wireless client devices 22 within thecoverage area 10. The size of a given coverage area 10 is determined bythe amount of RF power transmitted by the remote unit 14, receiversensitivity, antenna gain, and RF environment, as well as by the RFtransmitter/receiver sensitivity of the wireless client device 22.Wireless client devices 22 usually have a fixed RF receiver sensitivity,so that the properties of the remote unit 14 mainly determine the sizeof the coverage area 10.

In wireless/cellular networks, such as the DAS 12 in FIG. 1, high powerequipment used for distributing signals over long distances consumessignificant energy. Each remote unit 14 includes an electronic unit thatconsumes energy for operation in receiving and transmitting wirelesscommunications signals. For example, in some conventional DASs, remoteunits 14 can consume about fifteen watts (15 W) for each wirelessservice provided. In some conventional DASs, three or more services maybe provided simultaneously, resulting in power consumption of forty-fivewatts (45 W) or more for each remote unit 14. Many conventional DASsinclude more than fifty (50) remote units 14, with some systemsincluding one hundred (100) remote units 14 or more. Thus, total powerconsumption in these systems can exceed 1.5 or 3 kilowatts (kW).

High power consumption in the remote units 14 also generates heat thatmay require dissipation to avoid damaging components in the remote units14, and to avoid interfering with the climate control preferences in theenvironment of the distributed antenna system 12 (e.g., enclosed in abuilding). This excess heat is typically dissipated by a building'sair-conditioning system, which increases operating costs. In addition,conventional DASs 12 are usually operated at all times in order tomaintain coverage throughout the building, including hours and/or daysduring which there is little activity in the coverage areas 10. Thus,the high power consumption experienced by these conventional DASs 12 iscontinuous, which further adds to operating costs.

SUMMARY OF THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments disclosed in the detailed description include methods,apparatuses, and systems for power management in a distributed antennasystem (DAS), such as a distributed communications system, and relatedcomponents, systems and methods. Embodiments include determining useractivity at remote units of the DAS. In some embodiments, when useractivity in one or more remote units falls below a specified threshold,power usage by the one or more remote units is reduced. In this manner,as a non-limiting example, during periods of low user activity, userswithin a coverage area may receive continuous coverage without addedexpense and energy usage required by running the DAS at full power. Insome embodiments, when user activity in one or more remote units risesabove a specified threshold, power usage by the remote units isincreased. Power usage may be reduced and/or increased by turning selectremote units on or off, by increasing or reducing an operating voltageof one or more power amplifiers, and/or by turning select multiple-in,multiple-out (MIMO) front ends on or off. Power may be reduced tomaintain wireless coverage within a specified area.

In this regard, in one embodiment, a method comprises determining thatat least one remote unit of the DAS is experiencing user activity belowa first predetermined threshold. The method further comprises, inresponse to the determination that the at least one remote unit isexperiencing user activity below the first predetermined threshold,causing power usage by the at least one remote unit to be reduced. Inthis manner, as a non-limiting example, users may receive continuouscoverage while the DAS is able to operate at reduced power duringperiods of low user activity.

In another embodiment, a controller is configured to be connected to atleast one of a head-end unit or a first remote unit of a plurality ofremote units of a DAS. The controller further determines that at leastone remote unit of the plurality of remote units is experiencing useractivity below a first predetermined threshold. The controller isfurther configured to, in response to the determination, reduce powerusage by the at least one remote unit.

In another embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium havinginstructions for directing a processor performs a method comprisingdetermining that at least one remote unit of a DAS is experiencing useractivity below a first predetermined threshold. The method furthercomprises reducing power usage in the remote unit in response to thedetermination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional distributed antennasystem (DAS) capable of distributing wireless communications services toclient devices;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary DAS capable ofdistributing wireless communications services to client devices andmanaging power usage based on determined user activity;

FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary workflow for managing power usage of aDAS based on determined user activity according to one embodiment;

FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary workflow for managing power usage of aDAS based on determined user activity according to another embodiment;

FIG. 3C illustrates an exemplary workflow for managing power usage of aDAS based on determined user activity according to another embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a partially schematic cut-away diagram of an exemplarybuilding infrastructure in which the DAS in FIG. 2 can be employed;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary multiple-in, multiple-out(MIMO) DAS configured to support MIMO communications services withclient devices and manage power usage based on determined user activity;

FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of exemplary power management provided ina DAS adapted from the DAS of FIGS. 2-4;

FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram of exemplary power management provided ina DAS adapted from the DAS of FIGS. 2-4;

FIG. 6C is a schematic diagram of exemplary power management provided ina DAS adapted from the DAS of FIGS. 2-4; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a generalized representation of anexemplary controller that can be included in any central unit, remoteunits, wireless client devices, and/or any other components of a DAS toprovide or support power management, wherein a computer system isadapted to execute instructions from a computer-readable medium.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments disclosed in the detailed description include methods,apparatuses, and systems for power management in a distributed antennasystem (DAS), such as a distributed communications system, and relatedcomponents, systems and methods. Embodiments include determining useractivity at remote units of the DAS. When user activity in one or moreremote units falls below a specified threshold, power usage by the oneor more remote units is reduced. In this manner, during periods of lowuser activity, users within a coverage area may receive continuouscoverage without added expense and energy usage required by running theDAS at full power. In some embodiments, when user activity in one ormore remote units rises above a specified threshold, power usage by theone or more remote units is increased. Power usage may be reduced and/orincreased by turning select remote units on or off, by increasing orreducing an operating voltage of one or more power amplifiers, and/or byturning select multiple-in, multiple-out (MIMO) front ends on or off.Power may be reduced such that wireless coverage within a specified areais maintained. In this regard, a method of managing power in a DAScomprises determining that a remote unit of the DAS is experiencing useractivity below a first predetermined threshold. In response to thedetermination, power usage by the remote unit is reduced.

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, butnot all embodiments are shown. Whenever possible, like reference numberswill be used to refer to like components or parts.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary DAS 12(1) capable ofdistributing wireless communications services to wireless client devices22. The DAS 12(1) could be referred to as a distributed communicationssystem in some embodiments. In FIG. 2, coverage areas 10 in the DAS12(1) are created by and centered on remote units 14 connected to ahead-end equipment 16 (e.g., a head-end controller or head-end unit),similar to the conventional DAS 12 illustrated by FIG. 1. The remoteunits 14 receive wireless communications services from the head-endequipment 16 over a communications medium 18 to be distributed in theirrespective coverage areas 10. In this embodiment, the DAS 12(1) isdesigned such that the coverage areas 10 overlap with one another. Thisarrangement permits redundancy in coverage and ensures that the entiretyof a building or other installation is included in the total coveragearea 10 of the DAS 12(1).

The remote units 14 include information processing electronics, an RFtransmitter/receiver, and an antenna 20 operably connected to the RFtransmitter/receiver to wirelessly distribute the wirelesscommunications services to the wireless client devices 22 within thecoverage area 10. The size of a given coverage area 10 is determined bythe amount of RF power transmitted by the remote units 14, receiversensitivity, antenna gain, and RF environment, as well as by the RFtransmitter/receiver sensitivity of the wireless client devices 22. Allof these components consume power during operation of the remote unit14. Because conventional DASs 12 are usually operated constantly and atfull power, including hours and/or days during which there is low or noactivity in the coverage areas 10, the power consumption experienced bythese conventional DASs 12 can be extremely high, and can waste asignificant amount of energy and money, particularly during periods oflow user activity. To address this issue, an energy management module 24is coupled to the head-end equipment 16 in FIG. 2. The energy managementmodule 24 communicates with the head-end equipment 16 and/or remoteunits 14 using the communications medium 18 to manage power consumptionby the elements of the DAS 12(1). As will be described in greater detailwith respect to FIGS. 3A-3C, the energy management module 24 isconfigured to selectively reduce power to one or more of the remoteunits 14 in response to determining that user activity has fallen belowa certain threshold. In this embodiment, the energy management module 24is also connected to and communicates with a plurality of activitysensors 26 by another communications medium 28 distributed throughoutarea covered by the coverage areas 10. The wireless client devices 22usually have a fixed RF receiver sensitivity, so that theabove-mentioned properties of the remote units 14 mainly determine thesize of the coverage area 10. In this embodiment, the energy managementmodule 24 is an integrated component of the head-end equipment 16, butin other embodiments, the energy management module 24 can be a separatecomponent from the head-end equipment 16. A plurality of energymanagement modules 24 can also be integrated into or be otherwiseconnected to individual remote units 14 as well.

In this embodiment, the activity sensors 26 are distributed separatelyfrom the remote units 14 of the DAS 12(1). These activity sensors 26 canbe used to determine whether a number of users is below a certainthreshold, which can in turn be used to determine whether the DAS 12(1)is being under-utilized. In other embodiments, the activity sensors 26can also be integrated into or be otherwise connected to individualremote units 14 as well. In addition, the activity sensors 26 can employthe same communications medium 28 as the remote units 14 in theseembodiments. Examples of activity sensors 26 include infrared motionsensors, door activity sensors, and other sensors for detecting whetherusers are present within the coverage areas 10.

The energy management module 24 determines whether one or more of theremote units 14 of the DAS 12(1) is being under-utilized, i.e.,experiencing user activity below a certain threshold. This determinationcan be made based on received signals from the activity sensors 26, ananalysis of a downlink signal delivered to the remote units 14 from thehead-end equipment 16, an analysis of received signal strength (RSSI) atone or more of the remote units 14, determining a number of active usersutilizing a network associated with the coverage areas 10, such as acomputer network or a combination of networks.

FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary workflow for managing power usage ofDAS 12(1). It should be understood that this and subsequent workflows,and variations thereof, may also be used with other embodimentsdisclosed and contemplated herein. At the start of the workflow of FIG.3A, an activity level at one or more remote units 14 is determined(block 30), for example, at a power management module 24 of a DAS 12(1).The determining can be performed continuously, at predetermined times ortime intervals, or in response to detected conditions, such as areceived input from an activity sensor 26. Next, it is determinedwhether the determined activity level is below a first threshold (block32). If the activity level is not below the first threshold, the processreturns to determining the activity level (block 30). If the activitylevel is below the first threshold, power is reduced to one or moreselected remote units 14 (block 34).

FIG. 3B illustrates a more detailed workflow for managing power usage ina distributed antenna system 12(1) according to another embodiment. Asin the workflow of FIG. 3A, an activity level of one or more remoteunits 14 is determined (block 30), and it is further determined whetherthe determined activity level is below a first threshold (block 32).Likewise, if the activity level is not below the first threshold, theprocess returns to determining the activity level (block 30); if theactivity level is below the first threshold, power is reduced to one ormore selected remote units 14 (block 34).

In the workflow of FIG. 3B, after power is reduced (block 34), activityat the one or more remote units 14 is again determined (block 36), forexample, in a manner similar to block 30. Next, it is determined whetherthe determined activity level is above a second threshold (block 38).The second threshold can be equal to the first threshold, or can behigher than the first threshold in order to prevent continuouslychanging the power level of the remote units 14. If the activity levelis not above the second threshold, the process returns to determiningthe activity level (block 36). If the activity level is above the secondthreshold, power is increased to the one or more selected remote units14 (block 40). Next, the process returns to the original determinationactivity (block 30), and the process repeats.

FIG. 3C illustrates an exemplary workflow for managing power usage of aDAS 12(1) according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, blocks30, 32, 36, and 38 operate in the same manner as in FIG. 3B. However, inthis embodiment, if the activity level is determined to be below thefirst threshold in block 32, one or more selected remote units 14 iscompletely shut off (block 42). Likewise, in the embodiment of FIG. 3B,if the activity level is determined to be above the second threshold inblock 38, the one or more selected remote units 14 is turned back on(block 44).

If no signal is received above a certain power level at one or more ofthe remote units 14 for a given time period, the energy managementmodule 24 may determine that there is no wireless activity under thecoverage areas 10 of the respective remote units 14. Thus, power forthese remote units 14 can be reduced or shut off. For some cellulartechnologies, low activity may be characterized by transmission of alower number of radio carriers, or transmission of only low modulationscheme signals, which do not require high linearity and therefore can beoperated in lower power levels. For some cellular technologies (e.g.WCDMA), the coverage area 10 of the remote units 14 is affected by thenumber of concurrent users. As will be described in greater detail withrespect to FIGS. 6A-6C, the DAS 12(1) can be designed such that someremote units 14 can be shut off in low-usage situations withoutaffecting the overall total coverage area 10.

In some cellular technologies, the downlink signal being transmittedfrom the head-end equipment 16 to the remote units 14 over thecommunications medium 28 may be analyzed to identify or otherwisedetermine an activity level of one or more remote units 14. For example,determining that only control data is being transmitted from thehead-end equipment 16 may indicate that the DAS 12(1) is experiencing nouser activity. Thus, in this situation, the power of one or more remoteunits 14 can be reduced or shut off. Low power operation can bepre-scheduled based on expected times of low activity. For example, ifthe DAS 12(1) is installed in an office building, the DAS 12(1) can beconfigured to operate in a reduced-power mode during nights, weekends,and holidays, i.e., when no users are expected to be present.

Once a determination is made that the DAS 12(1) is being under-utilized,the energy management module 24 reduces an amount of power that isutilized by one or more remote units 14. As will be discussed in greaterdetail with respect to FIG. 5, this reduction can be accomplished byreducing the power used by one or more power amplifiers associated withthe head-end equipment 16 and/or the remote units 14, and can also beaccomplished by shutting off one or more of the power amplifiers.

In this embodiment, the DAS 12(1) is further configured to determinethat one or more remote units 14 is being utilized above a certainthreshold, and power up and/or turn on one or more of the remote units14 in response to the determination. The threshold can be the samethreshold that triggers the powering down of the remote units 14, or canbe a higher threshold than the first threshold to avoid continuouslypowering the remote units 14 on and off when user activity is maintainedat or near the threshold over time.

FIG. 4 is a partially schematic cut-away diagram of an exemplarybuilding infrastructure 46 in which the DAS 12(1) employing powermanagement can be employed. In this regard, FIG. 4 provides an exemplaryillustration of how the DAS 12(1) can be deployed indoors. The buildinginfrastructure 46 generally represents any type of building in which theDAS 12(1) can be deployed. As discussed with regard to FIGS. 1 and 2,the DAS 12(1) incorporates the head-end equipment 16 to provide varioustypes of communications services to coverage areas 10 within thebuilding infrastructure 46. The DAS 12(1) is configured to receivewireless RF communications signals and convert the RF communicationssignals into Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) signals to be communicated overoptical fibers 48 to multiple remote units 14. The DAS 12(1) can be, forexample, an indoor distributed antenna system (IDAS) employed to providewireless signals inside the infrastructure 46. Wireless signals caninclude cellular service, wireless services such as RFID tracking, WiFi,local area network (LAN), WLAN, and/or combinations thereof.

In this embodiment, the energy management module 24 included in the DAS12(1) as shown in FIG. 2, is coupled to the head-end equipment 16, andcommunicates with the head-end equipment 16 and/or remote units 14 usinga communications medium 28 to manage power consumption by the elementsof the DAS 12(1). The energy management module 24 is also connected toand communicates with multiple activity sensors 26 through thecommunications medium 28 distributed throughout area covered by thecoverage areas 10.

With continuing reference to FIG. 4, the building infrastructure 46 inthis embodiment includes a first (ground) floor 50, a second floor 52,and a third floor 54. The floors 50, 52, 54 are serviced by the head-endequipment 16 through a main distribution frame 56 to provide antennacoverage areas 58 in the infrastructure 46. Only the ceilings of thefloors 50, 52, 54 are shown in FIG. 4 for simplicity of illustration. Inthis exemplary embodiment, a main cable 60 has a number of differentsections that facilitate the placement of a large number of remote units14 in the building infrastructure 46. Each remote unit 14 in turnservices its own coverage area 10 (not shown) in the antenna coverageareas 58. The main cable 60 can include, for example, a riser cable 62that carries all of the downlink and uplink optical fibers 48D, 48U toand from the head-end equipment 16. The riser cable 62 may be routedthrough an interconnect unit (ICU) 64. The ICU 64 may include a powersupply, or may be connected to a separate power supply (not shown). TheICU 64 may also be configured to provide power to the remote units 14via an electrical power line provided inside an array cable 66, tailcable, or home-run tether cable as other examples, and distributed withthe downlink and uplink optical fibers 48D, 48U to the remote units 14.The main cable 60 can include one or more multi-cable (MC) connectorsadapted to connect select downlink and uplink optical fibers 48D, 48U,along with the electrical power line, to a number of optical fibercables 68.

The main cable 60 enables the multiple optical fiber cables 68 to bedistributed throughout the building infrastructure 46 (e.g., fixed tothe ceilings or other support surfaces of each floor 50, 52, 54) toprovide the antenna coverage areas 58 for the first, second, and thirdfloors 50, 52, and 54. In this embodiment, the head-end equipment 16 islocated within the infrastructure 46 (e.g., in a closet or controlroom), while in another embodiment, the head-end equipment 16 may belocated outside of the building infrastructure 46 at a remote location.A base transceiver station (BTS) 70, which may be provided by a secondparty such as a cellular service provider, is connected to the head-endequipment 16, and can be co-located or located remotely from thehead-end equipment 16. A BTS 70 is any station or source that providesan input signal to the head-end equipment 16 and can receive a returnsignal from the head-end equipment 16. In a typical cellular system, forexample, a plurality of BTSs 70 is deployed at a plurality of remotelocations to provide wireless telephone coverage. Each BTS 70 serves acorresponding cell, and when a wireless client device 22 enters thecell, the BTS 70 communicates with the wireless client device 22. EachBTS 70 can include at least one radio transceiver for enablingcommunications with one or more subscriber units operating within theassociated cell. As another example, wireless repeaters orbi-directional amplifiers could also be used to serve a correspondingcell in lieu of a BTS 70. Alternatively, radio input could be providedby a repeater or picocell.

The adapted DAS 12(1) in FIGS. 2-4 provides point-to-pointcommunications between the head-end equipment 16 and the remote units14. Each remote unit 14 communicates with the head-end equipment 16 overa distinct downlink and uplink optical fiber pair 48D, 48U to providethe point-to-point communications. Whenever a remote unit 14 isinstalled in the DAS 12(1), the remote unit 14 is connected to adistinct downlink and uplink optical fiber pair 48D, 48U connected tothe head-end equipment 16. Multiple downlink and uplink optical fiberpairs 48D, 48U can be provided in a fiber optic cable to servicemultiple remote units 14 from a common fiber optic cable. For example,with reference to FIG. 4, remote units 14 installed on a given floor 50,52, or 54 may be serviced from the same optical fiber 48. In thisregard, the optical fiber 48 may have multiple nodes where distinctdownlink and uplink optical fiber pairs 48D, 48U can be connected to agiven remote unit 14. One downlink optical fiber 48D could be providedto support multiple channels each using wavelength-division multiplexing(WDM), as discussed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/892,424 filedSep. 28, 2010, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Otheroptions for WDM and frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) are alsodisclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/892,424, any of whichcan be employed in any of the embodiments disclosed herein.

In the embodiment of the DAS 12(1) of FIG. 4, activity sensors 26 aredistributed across each of the floors 50, 52, 54, as well as at one ormore building entrances 72 on the first floor 50. As discussed abovewith respect to FIG. 2, the activity sensors 26 can be infrared sensors,door activity sensors, or other types of sensors that are capable ofdetecting the presence of one or more users in the coverage areas 10.

The above described power management schemes can be adapted for use witha variety of distributed antenna systems, including systems that includeMIMO communications services. MIMO technology involves the use ofmultiple antennas at both a transmitter and receiver to improvecommunications performance. In this regard, FIG. 5 is a schematicdiagram of an exemplary optical fiber-based DAS 12(2) (referred toherein as “DAS 12(2)”) configured to support MIMO communicationsservices with wireless client devices 22′. Although the DAS 12(2) isconfigured to operate in MIMO configuration, various components,methods, and systems described herein with respect to the DAS 12(2) maybe applied in whole or in part to other embodiments, including theadapted DAS 12(1) described above with respect to FIGS. 2-4. Referringback to FIG. 5, a head-end equipment 16′ is provided that is configuredto distribute downlink communications signals to one or more remoteunits 14′. FIG. 5 only illustrates one remote unit 14′, but note that aplurality of remote units 14′ is typically provided. The remote units14′ are configured to wirelessly communicate the downlink communicationssignals to one or more wireless client devices 22′ (also referred toherein as “client devices 22′”) that are in a communications range ofthe remote unit 14′. The remote unit 14′ is also configured to receiveuplink communications signals from the client devices 22′ to bedistributed to the head-end equipment 16′.

With continuing reference to FIG. 5, in this embodiment, an opticalfiber communications medium 18′ comprising at least one downlink opticalfiber 74D and at least one uplink optical fiber 74U is provided tocommutatively couple the head-end equipment 16′ to the remote units 14′.The head-end equipment 16′ is also configured to receive uplinkcommunications signals from the remote units 14′ via the optical fibercommunications medium 18′, although more specifically over the at leastone uplink optical fiber 74U. The client device 22′ in communicationwith the remote unit 14′ can provide uplink communications signals tothe remote unit 14′, which are then distributed over the optical fibercommunications medium 18′ to the head-end equipment 16′ to be providedto a network or other source, such as a base station for example.

The head-end equipment 16′ is configured to receive electrical downlinkMIMO communications signals 76D from outside the DAS 12(2) in a signalprocessor 78, and also provide electrical uplink MIMO communicationssignals 76U received from the client devices 22′ to other systems. Thesignal processor 78 may be configured to provide the electrical downlinkMIMO communications signals 76D to a mixer 80, which may be an IQ signalmixer in this example. The mixer 80 in this embodiment is configured toconvert the electrical downlink MIMO communications signals 76D to IQsignals. The mixer 80 is driven by a frequency signal 82 that isprovided by a local oscillator 84. In this embodiment, it is desired toup-convert the frequency of the electrical downlink MIMO communicationssignals 76D to provide higher-frequency electrical downlink MIMOcommunications signals 86D, to provide for a greater bandwidthcapability before distributing the electrical downlink MIMOcommunications signals 86D to the remote units 14′. For example, theup-conversion carrier frequency may be provided as an extremely highfrequency (e.g., approximately 30 GHz to 300 GHz).

With continuing reference to FIG. 5, because the mode of communicationbetween the head-end equipment 16′ and the remote unit 14′ is providedby the optical fiber communications medium 18′, the electrical downlinkMIMO communications signals 86D are converted to optical signals by anelectro-optical converter 88. The electro-optical converter 88 includescomponents to receive a light wave 90 from a light source 92, such as alaser. The light wave 90 is modulated by the frequency oscillations inthe electrical downlink MIMO communications signals 86D to provideoptical downlink MIMO communications signals 94D to be communicated overthe downlink optical fiber 74D to the remote unit 14′. Theelectro-optical converter 88 may be provided so that the electricaldownlink MIMO communications signals 86D are provided asRadio-over-Fiber (RoF) communications signals over the downlink opticalfiber 74D.

The optical downlink MIMO communications signals 94D are received by anoptical bi-directional amplifier 96, which are then provided to a MIMOsplitter 98 in the remote unit 14′. The MIMO splitter 98 is provided sothat the optical downlink MIMO communications signals 94D can be splitamong two separate downlink communications paths 100(1), 100(2) to beradiated over two separate MIMO antennas 20′(1), 20′(2) provided in twoseparate MIMO transmitters 102(1), 102(2) configured in MIMOconfiguration. The MIMO antennas 20′(1), 20′(2) are configured to beintra-cell bonded, meaning that both MIMO antennas 20′(1), 20′(2) withina given remote unit 14′ are designed to be involved in communicationswith a particular client device 22′ to provide MIMO communications withthe particular client device 22′. The MIMO splitter 98 in the remoteunit 14′ is an optical splitter since the received optical downlink MIMOcommunications signals 94D are optical signals. In each downlinkcommunications path 100(1), 100(2), downlink optical-to-electricalconverters 104D(1), 104D(2) are provided to convert the optical downlinkMIMO communications signals 94D to electrical downlink MIMOcommunications signals 106D(1), 106D(2).

With reference back to FIG. 5, the client device 22′ includes two MIMOreceivers 108(1), 108(2) that include MIMO receiver antennas 110(1),110(2) also configured in MIMO configuration. The MIMO receiver antennas110(1), 110(2) are configured to receive electrical downlink MIMOcommunications signals 112D(1), 112D(2) wirelessly from the remote unit14′. Mixers 114(1), 114(2) are provided and coupled to the MIMO receiverantennas 110(1), 110(2) in the client device 22′ to provide frequencyconversion of the electrical downlink MIMO communications signals112D(1), 112D(2). In this regard, a local oscillator 116 is providedthat is configured to provide oscillation signals 118(1), 118(2) to themixers 114(1), 114(2), respectively, for frequency conversion. In thisembodiment, the electrical downlink MIMO communications signals 112D(1),112D(2) are down converted back to their native frequency as received bythe head-end equipment 16′. The down converted electrical downlink MIMOcommunications signals 112D(1), 112D(2) are then provided to a signalanalyzer 120 in the client device 22′ for any processing desired.

As discussed above with respect to FIG. 2, power can be reduced in theDAS 12(2) by reducing a total power output from the head-end equipment16. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, this can be accomplished, for example,by reducing a power level of the light source 92 being delivered to theelectro-optical converter 88. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, power canalso be reduced at the remote unit 14′, for example, by employing anenergy management module 24′ connected to the electro-optical converter88, or an energy management module 24′ connected to an opticalbi-directional amplifier 96 and/or downlink optical-to-electricalconverters 104D(1), 104D(2).

Each remote unit 14′ may include multiple power amplifiers or otherenergy consuming circuits, for example for supporting MIMOcommunications, multiple frequency bands, and/or other wirelesstechnologies. In this embodiment, individual MIMO radio paths (notshown) can be shut off completely, for example by turning off theassociated downlink optical-to-electrical converter 104D, to conservepower. The remaining active MIMO radio paths can also be operated at areduced power level.

When conserving power in this manner, it is desirable to maintain aminimum level of persistent coverage within the coverage area 10 of theDAS 12. FIGS. 6A-6C are schematic diagrams of exemplary power managementprovided in the adapted DAS 12(3), similar to DAS 12(1) of FIGS. 2-4. Inthis regard, FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of exemplary powermanagement provided in a DAS 12(3) that is adapted from the DAS 12(1) inFIGS. 2-4. Common components between the DAS 12(1) and the DAS 12(3)include common numbering in FIG. 6A, and will not be re-described indetail.

As illustrated in FIG. 6A, a plurality of remote units 14(1)-14(6) areprovided in the DAS 12(3). Client devices 22(1)-22(3) are located in theDAS 12(3) and are configured to receive and transmit wirelesscommunications signals with the DAS 12(3) via the remote units14(1)-14(6). As discussed above, the range of each remote unit 14 can bedependent on a level of activity being experienced by each remote unit14 and/or by the DAS 12(3). For example, the effective range of a remoteunit 14 can decrease in high activity situations, and can increase inlow activity situations. Thus, in order to ensure persistent coverage,the remote units 14(1)-14(6) may be arranged such that minimum ranges122 of each remote unit 14 (i.e., the range of the remote unit 14 atmaximum capacity) covers an entire desired coverage area 124. Asillustrated in FIG. 6A, when the DAS 12(3) is at capacity, each remoteunit 14 operates with a minimum range 122 such that all points in theentire desired coverage area 124 are still within range of at least oneof the remote units 14(1)-14(6).

FIG. 6B illustrates the DAS 12(3) of FIG. 6A when operating at a loweractivity level. In this embodiment, the range of each remote unit14(1)-14(6) is significantly increased over the minimum ranges 122 inthis low activity situation, and creates numerous redundant coverageareas 10 (not shown). Thus, it is possible to reduce the power providedto one or more of the remote units 14(1)-14(6) while still maintainingcoverage over the entire desired coverage area 124.

In some embodiments, power can be reduced by proportionally reducing thepower provided to all of the remote units 14(1)-14(6). Reducing poweracross the entire DAS 12(3) may reduce effective ranges 126 of theremote units 14(1)-14(6), such that they return to the minimum ranges122 that correspond to full power operation of the DAS 12(3) at maximumcapacity.

In some embodiments, the remote units 14(1)-14(6) of the DAS 12(3) canbe arranged such that individual remote units 14 can be completelyturned off in low activity situations without interrupting coverage inthe desired coverage area 124. For example, FIG. 6C illustrates the DAS12(3) of FIGS. 6A and 6B, in which the entire desired coverage area 124is covered by the effective ranges 126 of remote units 14(1), 14(3), and14(5) when operating at full power in low activity conditions. In thisembodiment, individual remote units 14(2), 14(4), and 14(6) are turnedoff, while remote units 14(1), 14(3), and 14(5) remain on at full power.Thus, at the low activity level illustrated in FIG. 6C, coverage withinthe desired coverage area 124 is uninterrupted.

Although the DASs 12(1), 12(2) and 12(3) described above allow fordistribution of RF communications signals, the DASs 12(1), 12(2) and12(3) described above are not limited to distribution of RFcommunications signals. Data communications signals, including digitaldata signals, for distributing data services could also be distributedin the DASs 12(1), 12(2) and 12(3) in lieu of, or in addition to, RFcommunications signals. Also note that while the DAS 12(1) in FIGS. 2-4described above includes distribution of communications signals overoptical fibers 48, these DASs 12(1), 12(2) and 12(3) are not limited todistribution of communications signals over the optical fibers 48.Distribution media could also include, but are not limited to, coaxialcable, twisted-pair conductors, wireless transmission and reception,and/or any combination thereof. Also, any combination can be employedthat also involves optical fibers 48 for portions of the DAS 12.

It may also be desired to provide high-speed wireless digital dataservice connectivity with the remote units in the DASs disclosed herein.An example of this connectivity is WiFi. WiFi was initially limited indata rate transfer to 12.24 megabits per second (Mb/s) but is nowprovided at data transfer rates of up to 54 Mb/s using WLAN frequenciesof 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) and 5.8 GHz. While interesting for manyapplications, WiFi has proven to have too small a bandwidth to supportreal time downloading of uncompressed high definition (HD) televisionsignals to wireless client devices. To increase data transfer rates, thefrequency of wireless signals could be increased to provide largerchannel bandwidth. For example, an extremely high frequency in the rangeof 30 GHz to 300 GHz could be employed. For example, the sixty (60) GHzspectrum is an extremely high frequency (EHF) that is an unlicensedspectrum by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and that couldbe employed to provide for larger channel bandwidths. However, highfrequency wireless signals are more easily attenuated from travelingthrough walls or other building structures where DASs are installed.

Thus, the embodiments disclosed herein can include distribution of EHF(i.e., approximately 30-approximately 300 GHz). The DASs disclosedherein can also support provision of digital data services to wirelessclients. The use of the EHF band allows for the use of channels having ahigher bandwidth, which in turn allows more data intensive signals, suchas uncompressed HD video to be communicated without substantialdegradation to the quality of the video. As a non-limiting example, theDASs disclosed herein may operate at approximately sixty (60) GHz withapproximately seven (7) GHz bandwidth channels to provide greaterbandwidth to digital data services. The distributed antenna systemsdisclosed herein may be well suited to be deployed in an indoor buildingor other facility for delivering digital data services.

It may be desirable to provide DASs that provide digital data servicesfor client devices. For example, it may be desirable to provide digitaldata services to client devices located within a DAS. Wired and wirelessdevices may be located in infrastructures that are configured to accessdigital data services. Examples of digital data services include, butare not limited to, Ethernet, WLAN, WiMax, WiFi, Digitial SubscriberLine (DSL), and Long Term Evolution (LTE), etc. Ethernet standards couldbe supported, including but not limited to, 100 Mb/s (i.e., fastEthernet) or Gigabit (Gb) Ethernet, or ten Gigabit (10G) Ethernet.Examples of digital data services include wired and wireless servers,wireless access points (WAPs), gateways, desktop computers, hubs,switches, remote radio heads (RRHs), baseband units (BBUs), andfemtocells. A separate digital data services network can be provided toprovide digital data services to digital client devices.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram representation illustrating componentswith additional detail that could be employed in any of the DASs,components or devices disclosed herein, if adapted to executeinstructions from an exemplary computer-readable medium to perform anyof the functions or processing described herein. For example, thesecomponents may be integrated into or be configured to otherwise instructthe energy management module 24 of FIGS. 2-4 to carry out one or more ofthe power management schemes described above. For example, the processesdescribed in FIGS. 3A-3C above could be provided as a result ofexecuting instructions from a computer-readable medium. In this regard,such a component or device may include a computer system 128, withinwhich a set of instructions for performing any one or more of the powermanagement schemes discussed herein may be executed. The computer system128 may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines in a LAN, anintranet, an extranet, or the Internet. While only a single device isillustrated, the term “device” shall also be taken to include anycollection of devices that individually or jointly execute a set (ormultiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein. The computer system 128 may be a circuitor circuits included in an electronic board card, such as, a printedcircuit board (PCB), a server, a personal computer, a desktop computer,a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a computing pad,a mobile device, or any other device, and may represent, for example, aserver or a user's computer.

The exemplary computer system 128 in this embodiment includes aprocessing device or processor 130, a main memory 132 (e.g., read-onlymemory (ROM), flash memory, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), such assynchronous DRAM (SDRAM), etc.), and a static memory 134 (e.g., flashmemory, static random access memory (SRAM), etc.), which may communicatewith each other via a data bus 136. Alternatively, the processing device130 may be connected to the main memory 132 and/or static memory 134directly or via some other connectivity means. The processing device 130may be a controller, and the main memory 132 or static memory 134 may beany type of memory.

The processing device 130 represents one or more general-purposeprocessing devices, such as a microprocessor, central processing unit,or the like. More particularly, the processing device 130 may be acomplex instruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, a reducedinstruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, a very long instructionword (VLIW) microprocessor, a processor implementing other instructionsets, or other processors implementing a combination of instructionsets, configured to execute processing logic in instructions 138 forperforming the operations discussed herein.

The computer system 128 may further include a network interface device140. The computer system 128 also may include an input 142, configuredto receive input and selections to be communicated to the computersystem 128 when executing the instructions 138. The computer system 128also may include an output 144, including but not limited to a display,a video display unit (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathoderay tube (CRT)), an alphanumeric input device (e.g., a keyboard), and/ora cursor control device (e.g., a mouse).

The computer system 128 may include a data storage device 146 thatincludes instructions 148 stored in a computer-readable medium 150. Theinstructions 148 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 132 and/or within the processing device 130during execution thereof by the computer system 128, wherein the mainmemory 132 and the processing device 130 also constitute thecomputer-readable medium 150. The instructions 148 may further betransmitted or received over a network 152 via the network interfacedevice 140.

While the computer-readable medium 150 is shown as a single medium, theterm “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiplemedia (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associatedcaches and servers) that store the instructions 148. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capableof storing, encoding, or carrying a set of instructions for execution bythe processing device and that causes the processing device to performany one or more of the methodologies disclosed herein. The term“computer-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, butnot be limited to, solid-state memories, optical and magnetic medium,and carrier wave signals.

The embodiments disclosed herein include various steps that may beformed by hardware components or embodied in machine-executableinstructions, which may be used to cause a general-purpose orspecial-purpose processor programmed with the instructions to performthe steps. Alternatively, the steps may be performed by a combination ofhardware and software.

The embodiments disclosed herein may be provided as a computer programproduct, or software, that may include a machine-readable medium (orcomputer-readable medium) having stored thereon instructions, which maybe used to program a computer system (or other electronic devices) toperform a process according to the embodiments disclosed herein. Amachine-readable medium includes any mechanism for storing ortransmitting information in a form readable by a machine, such as: amachine-readable storage medium (e.g., ROM, random access memory(“RAM”), a magnetic disk storage medium, an optical storage medium,flash memory devices, etc.); a machine-readable transmission medium(electrical, optical, acoustical, or other form of propagated signals(e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.); and thelike.

Unless specifically stated otherwise and as apparent from the previousdiscussion, discussions utilizing terms such as “processing,”“computing,” “determining,” “displaying,” or the like, refer to theaction and processes of a computer system, or similar electroniccomputing device, that manipulates and transforms data and memoriesrepresented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computersystem's registers into other data similarly represented as physicalquantities within the computer system memories or registers or othersuch information storage, transmission, or display devices.

The algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherently relatedto any particular computer or other apparatus, or programming language.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, andalgorithms described in connection with the embodiments disclosed hereinmay be implemented as electronic hardware, instructions stored in memoryor in another computer-readable medium and executed by a processor orother processing device, or combinations of both. The components of theDASs described herein may be employed in any circuit, hardwarecomponent, integrated circuit (IC), or IC chip, as examples. Memorydisclosed herein may be any type of memory and may be configured tostore any type of information desired. To illustrate thisinterchangeability, illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits,and steps have been described above generally in terms of theirfunctionality.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implementedor performed with a processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field ProgrammableGate Array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, a discrete gateor transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinationthereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Furthermore,a controller may be a processor. A processor may be a microprocessor,any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or statemachine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination ofcomputing devices (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, aplurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunctionwith a DSP core).

The embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in hardware and ininstructions that are stored in hardware, and may reside, for example,in RAM, flash memory, ROM, Electrically Programmable ROM (EPROM),Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers, a hard disk,a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other known form of computer-readablemedium. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor suchthat the processor can read information from, and write information to,the storage medium. Alternatively, the storage medium may be integral tothe processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in anASIC, which may reside in a remote station. Alternatively, the processorand the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a remotestation, base station, or server.

The operational steps described in any of the exemplary embodimentsherein may be performed in numerous different sequences other than theillustrated sequences. Furthermore, operations described in a singleoperational step may actually be performed in a number of differentsteps, and one or more operational steps may be combined. Informationand signals may be represented using any of a variety of technologiesand techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information,signals, bits, symbols, and chips, that may be references throughout theabove description, may be represented by voltages, currents,electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields, or particles, optical fields orparticles, or any combination thereof.

As used herein, the terms “fiber optic cables” and/or “optical fibers”include all types of single mode and multi-mode light waveguides,including one or more optical fibers that may be upcoated, colored,buffered, ribbonized, and/or have other organizing or protectivestructure in a cable such as one or more tubes, strength members, orjackets.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the embodiments set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which theembodiments pertain, and having the benefit of the teachings presentedin the forgoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, itis to be understood that the description and claims are not to belimited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modificationsand other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope ofthe appended claims. The embodiments cover the modifications andvariations of the embodiments provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents. Although specific terms areemployed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense onlyand not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless communications system, comprising: aplurality of remote units; a head-end unit coupled to the remote unitover a plurality of optical communications paths, the head-end unitincluding a controller configured to: monitor a plurality of remoteunits in a first power configuration, wherein at least one remote unitof the plurality of remote units in the first power configuration has afirst power state such that the remote unit has a first coverage rangewhen the remote unit has a user activity level at a first predeterminedthreshold, and the remote unit has a second coverage range larger thanthe first coverage range when the remote unit has a user activity levelat a second predetermined threshold below the first predeterminedthreshold, and the first coverage ranges of the plurality of remoteunits cover all of a predetermined coverage area; determine that eachremote unit of a first subset of the plurality of remote units has auser activity level below the second predetermined threshold; inresponse to the determination that each remote unit of the first subsethas a user activity level below the second predetermined threshold,determine a second power configuration wherein each remote unit of asecond subset of the plurality of remote units has a second power statelower than the first power state of the respective remote unit, suchthat each remote unit of the second subset has a third coverage rangesmaller than the second coverage range of the respective remote unit,wherein the third coverage ranges of the remote units of the secondsubset and the first coverage ranges of the remote units outside thesecond subset cover all of the predetermined coverage area; and reducepower usage to each remote unit of the second subset of the plurality ofremote units from the first power state to the second power state of therespective remote unit such that the plurality of remote units are inthe second power configuration.
 2. The wireless communications system ofclaim 1, wherein the remote units are distributed among at least twofloors of a building infrastructure, and wherein the plurality ofoptical communications paths includes a plurality of optical fiberscomprising part of a cable deployed in the building infrastructure. 3.The wireless communications system of claim 2, wherein the opticalcommunications paths are configured to convey one or more signalsselected from the group consisting of: cellular service, radio frequencyidentification (RFID) tracking, wireless fidelity (WiFi), local areanetwork (LAN), and wireless local area network (WLAN).
 4. The wirelesscommunications system of claim 2, comprising at least one interconnectunit located on at least one of the floors and comprising at least apart of the optical communication paths.
 5. The wireless communicationssystem of claim 4, wherein the interconnect unit comprises a powersupply configured to provide electrical power to at least one of theremote units.
 6. The wireless communications system of claim 2, whereinthe head-end is configured to receive wireless RF communications signalsfrom a source and convert the RF communications signals intoRadio-over-Fiber (RoF) signals to be communicated over the opticalcommunication paths.
 7. The wireless communications system of claim 1,wherein the second power state of each remote unit of the second subsetof the plurality of remote units is higher than a third power state ofthe respective remote unit.
 8. The wireless communications system ofclaim 7, wherein the third power state is an off state.
 9. The wirelesscommunications system of claim 8, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to: determine that a third subset of the plurality of remoteunits of the DAS has a user activity level above a third predeterminedthreshold; and in response to the determination that the third subset ofthe plurality of remote units has a user activity level above the thirdpredetermined threshold, increase power to each remote unit of a fourthsubset of the plurality of remote units.
 10. The wireless communicationssystem of claim 8, wherein: each remote unit of the plurality of remoteunits includes a plurality of multiple-in, multiple-out (MIMO) frontends; and reducing power to each remote unit of the second subset of theplurality of remote units comprises turning off at least one MIMO frontend of the plurality of MIMO front ends for each remote unit of thesecond subset of the plurality of remote units.
 11. The wirelesscommunications system of claim 7, wherein the remote units aredistributed among at least two floors of a building infrastructure, andwherein the plurality of optical communications paths includes aplurality of optical fibers comprising part of a cable deployed in thebuilding infrastructure.
 12. The wireless communications system of claim11, wherein the optical communications paths are configured to conveyone or more signals selected from the group consisting of: cellularservice, radio frequency identification (RFID) tracking, wirelessfidelity (WiFi), local area network (LAN), and wireless local areanetwork (WLAN).
 13. The wireless communications system of claim 11,comprising at least one interconnect unit located on at least one of thefloors and comprising at least a part of the optical communicationpaths, wherein the interconnect unit comprises a power supply configuredto provide electrical power to at least one of the remote units.
 14. Thewireless communications system of claim 11, wherein the head-end isconfigured to receive wireless RF communications signals from a sourceand convert the RF communications signals into Radio-over-Fiber (RoF)signals to be communicated over the optical communication paths.
 15. Thewireless communications system of claim 1, wherein: each remote unit ofthe plurality of remote units includes a plurality of multiple-in,multiple-out (MIMO) front ends; and reducing power to each remote unitof the second subset of the plurality of remote units comprises turningoff at least one MIMO front end of the plurality of MIMO front ends foreach remote unit of the second subset of the plurality of remote units.16. The wireless communications system of claim 15, wherein the remoteunits are distributed among at least two floors of a buildinginfrastructure, and wherein the plurality of optical communicationspaths includes a plurality of optical fibers comprising part of a cabledeployed in the building infrastructure.
 17. The wireless communicationssystem of claim 16, wherein the head-end is configured to receivewireless RF communications signals from a source and convert the RFcommunications signals into Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) signals to becommunicated over the optical communication paths.